Pesticide Registrations and Endangered Species Act Consultation

California red-legged frog.

Photo credit: Flo Gardipee, USFWS

The purpose of the Endangered Species Act consultation process is to assist federal agencies in meeting their obligation to insure that any action they authorize, fund, or carry out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any species listed as endangered or threatened or to result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat. This process applies to the registration and reregistration of pesticides by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

Pesticides may be harmful to some endangered and threatened species. Through the section 7(a)(2) consultation process, the EPA, registrants, and other stakeholders can work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to avoid and minimize adverse effects to listed species and their critical habitat from the registration and use of pesticides. Where adverse effects cannot be completely avoided or minimized to an insignificant or discountable level, the Service will prepare a biological opinion to determine whether registration of a given pesticide is likely to jeopardize a listed species and/or adversely modify critical habitat. Completed biological opinions will be posted below as they become available.

As part of carrying out the consultation process for pesticide products, the Service, along with EPA, NOAA-Fisheries, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is committed to providing product registrants, product users, and other interested parties opportunities for involvement. The Service will provide notifications regarding how such involvement will be sought as the consultations unfold.

Completed Biological Opinions for Pesticide Registrations

As biological opinions are finalized for pesticide registration or re-registration under FIFRA, they will be available here.

Timeline for Upcoming Biological Opinions

Biological opinions for the five pesticides listed in July 28, 2014 Settlement Agreement (Center for Biological Diversity v. United States Fish and Wildlife Service et al., 2014) are expected to be completed as follows: